Thanks Gretchen & MCA

By SAM HATCHER
“Where have we been for the past two years?” That was the question my wife and I asked ourselves last Saturday night when we walked out of The Mill following the third annual production of McClain Christian Academy’s “Music at the Mill.”

Frankly, I’m not one capable of reviewing a show of this quality, but I can assure you, for a guy who likes to be in bed by 9 o’clock, I felt no anxiety when we got home at a little after 11.

This was one great show played to a full house just as it should have been. It was our first, but I promise we will be back next year.

Gretchen Wilson, a member of the MCA board of directors whose daughter is a student at the Lebanon school, opened the event. The Grammy winning country music entertainer exclaimed to the audience her appreciation for their attendance, praised MCA, and said she was proud to live in Wilson County.

From this initial performance until the last almost four hours later, The Mill, once a hall for blanket weaving, was alive with music provided by some of Nashville’s very best.

The line-up and just some of their hits included Even Stevens, “When You’re In Love With A Beautiful Woman” – Dr. Hook; Alex Harvey, “Delta Dawn” – Tanya Tucker, “Reuben James” – Kenny Rogers; Leslie Satcher, “Troubador” – George Strait; Beth Nielsen Chapman, “This Kiss” – Faith Hill; Mike Reid, “I Can’t Make You Love Me” – Bonnie Raitt, “Stranger In My House” – Ronnie Milsap; Will Robinson, “I Know How He Feels” – Reba McEntire; Richie McDonald, “I’m Already There” – Lonestar; Rhean Boyer, “Carolina Rain” – Rhean & The Restless; and Mike Loudermilk, instrumental cuts for industry greats including the late Chet Atkins.

Hearing the writers perform was just a part of the entertainment. Hearing them tell the stories behind their favorite creations was, as Paul Harvey would say, “the rest of the story.”

This indeed is one of Wilson County’s finest hours (four hours) annually. Thank you Gretchen Wilson and MCA for making this show possible. We look forward to next year’s return.

And by the way kudos to WANT on-air personality MJ Lucas for the contributions she made as the night’s emcee.